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luke 3:15-
All are Called
There is a little bit of liturgical debate about what this coming season in the church calendar should be.
Many people advocate for a “season of Epiphany” while technically, the season following Epiphany is one special Sunday, followed by the old standby “ordinary time”.
Many of the Christmas and Epiphany themes continue, but not as overtly.
I like the idea of a season of Epiphany and you’ll hear many of the Epiphany themes continue in my preaching, event though the paraments will go back to green until Lent.
The specific theme I’m going to stick with is this idea of “All”.
Epiphany - the coming of the Magi - symbolizes Jesus coming for ALL PEOPLE . .
Jesus revealed to ALL PEOPLE.
Last week, we saw hoe God speaks to all, we just have to listen.
This week, we’re going to focus on how all are called, and specifically on how baptism is a symbol of that calling which is open to all people.
Epiphany, the remembrance of when the wise men visited Jesus.
Some celebrated it
on the Sunday before or following.
The Sunday after Epiphany actually has its own
name, though.
It’s call
We’re going to talk about baptism specifically because the Sunday after Epiphany has its own name, regardless of what you call the season after it.
It’s called “the Baptism of the Lord.”
This is a time when we remember Jesus’ baptism, and in remembering Jesus’ baptism, we remember our own baptism.
Later in the service, we will participate in a remembrance of baptism.
ed “the Baptism of our Lord.”
This is a time when we
remember Jesus’ baptism, and in remembering Jesus’ baptism, we remember our
own baptism.
Now, I don’t actually remember being baptized.
I was a pretty tiny baby when I was baptized.
I know I was baptized.
There are pictures to prove it.
But I don’t remember it.
I’m sure that’s the same for many of you.
But I know it’s not true for everyone.
Many people are baptized as teenagers or adults and remember the moment clearly.
So, if we know that we were baptized, either because we have pictures of it or because we remember it –or maybe both –why spend a whole Sunday talking about it?
I was baptized.
I know I was.
There
are pictures to prove it.
But I don’t remember it.
I’m sure that’s the same for many of you.
But I know it’s not true for everyone.
Many
people are baptized as adults and remember the moment clearly.
So, if we know that
we were baptized, either because we
have pictures of it or because we remember it
–
or maybe both
–
why spend a whole Sunday talking about it?
Baptism isn’t what saves us.
An baptized baby is no more guaranteed a spot in heaven than an upbaptized baby.
Many adults and older children choose to be baptized to recognize the fact that they have been saved by an actual, real encounter with God already. . .
before their baptism.
in heaven than an upbaptized baby.
Many adults and old children choose
to be
baptized to recognize the fact that they have been saved by an actual, real encounter
with God already. . .
before their baptism.
Baptism is more than just a club membership or some sort of ritual you have to go through to be a “real” part of the church community.
It’s not some weird initiation rite that gets you into the “in” crowd.
to go through to be a “real” part of the c
hurch community.
It’s not some weird
initiation rite that gets you into the “in” crowd.
Baptism is called in our tradition a “sign and seal” of God’s grace in our lives.
In ancient covenants, there were usually signs and seals of that covenant.
For example, in the Old Testament when God makes his covenant with Abraham, circumcision is the sign and seal of the covenant that God and Abraham made.
The circumcision didn’t save Abraham, but it acknowledged that covenant in a real, physical, tangible way.
In that physical enacting of the covenantal seal, God was present with Abraham powerfully and Abraham in turn was powerfully present with God.
In ancient covenants, there were usually signs and seals of that covenant.
For
examp
le, in the Old Testament when God makes his covenant with Abraham,
circumcision is the sign and seal of the covenant that God and Abraham made.
The
circumcision didn’t save Abraham, but it acknowledged that covenant in a real,
physical, tangible way.
In th
at physical enacting of the covenantal seal, God was
present with Abraham powerfully and Abraham in turn was powerfully present
with God.
Let’s look again at the gospel passage today.
If you have your Bible handy still, go ahead and pick it back up.
Go back to . . .
Who baptizes whom?
handy still, go ahead and pick it back
up.
Go back to . . .
Notice something?
Jesus is baptized by spend a great deal of time and effort in my sermons emphasizing the fact that Jesus is God.
So why does God need to be baptized as a sign and seal of the covenant between God and God’s people?
Weird, right?
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